The sun., 1887-03-30
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
TAe Candidate or the Pacific Coast.
FS0u The gnn yranelsoo Daiiv Report

SO far as newspaper men can put man
into the field for the Presidential nomination,
William 7. Coleman Of California Is now In the
field. The New YoRK SUN suggested him, and
SO many journals have hailed tho suggestion
and expressed their confidence In Mr.. Coleman
as an available Presidential candidate, that no
must henceforth be considered q factor in the
political problem Of 1888.
Ofcourse. we must allow for the possibility,
perhaps we should say the probability, OF re-
fusal Would any ono refuse Presidential
nomination, with a fighting chance 10 wfn
Mr.. Coleman would bc very likely to ID 30
with victory almost within his grasp. Du1ng
the past quarter Of century, almost cAry
office the people of California have had to gAe.
at any rate every Office that they thought 10
would like to have. has been offered to NJ.
Coleman; and each has been declined widt
thanks. To Coleman also has Governor after
Governor turned, with Offices OF emOlument
and honor extended and Coleman has waved
each away with one Of his genial smiles Wo
have wanted him to DO Governor. knowing his
high integrity and his keen and far-reaching
intelligence, and he would not have 1t. Last
month he was offered the Major Generalship
Of our militia, because no was known to be a
natural leader OF men, and ooe whose courage
and resolution could be depend upon ut all
as he wanted the ajor-Gencrnlship. because
1t has been the custom in California to turn to
Coleman and ask him to lead, whether in the
peaceful paths of the Chief Executive or amid
the dangerous and fiery scenes OF vigiante
times. or the Denis Kcnrney riots the mention
Of his name for the Presidency occasioned no
surprise in this State. We simply hailed it as
a happy thought, and wondered "whe!hcr he
would take It,"
Mr.. Coleman would enter upon Presidential
campaign with a great deal OF strength be-
sides that which his party would give him. He
would come forward rs a self-made man, as
one Of the people, who for the first time in the
sixty three years of his life asked an office or
canvassed for n vote. He would show career
begun upon n farm-that nursery Of American
Presidents--and pursued, with varied fortune,
but steady grit through years Of arluous toll
and stern endeavOr, to success, wealth, and
honor: and the bitterest of his opponents in
the political field would not be able to put his
finger upon spot OF meanness or weakness
or dishonor in the whole it.
Colemans life would read well, ana the more
minutely the bographer should 20 into tho de-
tails OF 1t tho better it would read. 1t would
tell how he was born a Cynthiana. KY, Feb.
30, 1924, and was left Ncnniess orphan at
years Of age: how he then worked on a farm
the partial support and education of younger
brother and sister: toed all summer in the
fields, went to school in tho winter: left the
farm ut Is and worked, young as he was, as
civil engineer on an Illinois railroad till work
| on It was suspended; then went to st. Louis
and clerked In a lumber yard for three years.
saving his money SO that he could take a col
lege course later: entered the University of st.
Louis. and because time pressed and money
was scarce pushed his way in two years
through four-years' course ; left the college
| with health impaired by study but heart as
sound as ever and ambition rs high: made u
tour of the South and the Indian Territories
and finally, with restored health, returned to
st. Louis and clcrked again, again saving his
money: caught the California fever in 1919 and
started overland with large party in that year:
when the company broke up at Salt Lake,
pushed on with brother, and completed the
journey: arrived at Sacramento with y little
money-every cent OF it the savings OF his St.
| Louis salary-and with that small capital. aug
| mented by the sale of seven horses he had sue
| ceeded in bringing through. speculated in town
| lots and live srock, and soon Increased his
means; next winter came to San Francisco
looking larger ventures; established general
| stores here, and in Sacramento took into part
| nership two young friends and made much
| money: closed the Sacramento store and con-
| centrated his business in San Francisco; was
burned out in the great fire Of May 1851. which
occurred on II Saturday. and on the following
| Monday opened another store and resumed
business; had more money than ever in year,
| and then went on from success to success,
guided by head that is recognized rs one OF
| the clcarest in California, and sustained by u
: heart tliAn which there is none stouter on the
| Pacific coast, till he had achieved what is now
| the largest coast and interior business in the
country, and established a mercantile house
that is known ull over the world and has it's
| branches and agencies In all the great centres
| OF commerce..
In New York Mr.. Coleman is particularly
well known. and he spends Il good deal of time
| there, having residence property at Yonkers
| and II very large circle OF Eastern acquaint-
anceS, mercantile and social. But. of course,
Mr.. Coleman is II citizen of California. and he
never fails to show that he is proud Of the fact.
| Mr. Coleman is fortunate in possessing per-
sonal appearance that is in accord with his
character. 1t is that OF man of physical as
well as mental power Kindincss is written as
| distinctly across tho upper part of 1t rs firm
ness and energy across the lower. He Is tall
and massive, but not unwicldly, has u large,
| we'll l-balanced head, n complexion of remark
able freshness for n man of his years. Il keen,
steady eye, courteous, approuchabe manner,
such us reporters like to find in public men.
and voice that has in it the charm of good
nature and simplicity of character But un-
derneath tho genial exterior lie an iron will
and inilcxible principles, as all who have taken
upon them to test tho one or swerve the other
| have found.
| Such is tho man THE SUN has suggested ms a
candidate for the Presidency. Wearc proud to
| be able to speak we'll OF u Californian ON
| such an occasion.
Our Vanishing Forests.
From the jamestown Journal
| In taking n last, sad farewell Of the only ma
five forrest Left In Clallauluu couulY canunI